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Home , Artificial turf, Atlanta Braves, Bud Selig, John Schuerholz

Players who still spend a majority of from , was out in right field in a Artificial Turf Dying in Major League their games on artificial turf say they can day game in St. Louis in July or August feel it. and it’s 100 degrees. He had rubber cleats Joe Maddon and had to call time out. They had melted. makes sure to give All-Star Carl If I wore the metal spikes, it would have Crawford days off when he has a lot of me branded under the soles on my feet on consecutive games on turf. “I got away a real hot day, from the metal, it would with it when I was 21. I’m a little older sunburn my heel and the balls of my feet. now – I’m almost 30, and it becomes I remember and I would go, ‘Why are my tougher,” Crawford said. “It definitely feet on fire?”’ takes a toll on your body when you have to outfielder Torii Hunter, play 81 games on it. And we’re in a divi- who spent nine seasons at the Metrodome, sion where you play another nine games said the artificial turf was “like running in on the . That means you’re playing sand” and hurt his hamstrings, lower back, more games on it than you are on natural knees and calf muscles. grass. Basically, you play the best you can Hunter, who left the artificial turf of the with it, but it’s not easy.” Metrodome for Anaheim’s grass after the oddS & endS STA Membership plaques “I’m personally very happy that they’re gone,” baseball Display membership plaques are said. “I understand the need for artificial turf, particularly in available in executive engraved multipurpose . But I think the players are better off and I think walnut for $50 plus S&h & gst. To order, contact Lee at the STA that the game is better, so I’m happy.” office. Spring 2010 Submissions Gold Glove Keith Her- 2007 season, can’t wait until it’s all gone. If you have something you’d nandez says grounders “bounced like a While there’s still artificial turf, his body like to submit for the next issue, SuperBall.” But that wasn’t the biggest pays the price. please forward it to the STA of- problem: His ankles aren’t good to this “During the season, you feel it after fice by February 26, 2010. day because of the turf at Busch your first couple games,” he said. “It takes in St. Louis, his home field from 1974-83. me like a month and a half to really get editorial Content He would soak his feet in buckets of water over some of the soreness that you have Opinions expressed in articles while the Cardinals batted. after the season.” ♦ published in Sports Turf Manager are those of the author and not Former player Maury Wills re- “On day games the thermometer would — Associate Press Baseball writer necessarily those of the STA, un- read 148 off the turf,” he recalled. “I re- Ronald Blum, Sept. 26, Turfgrass Producers membered back 43 years ago when he became the first less otherwise indicated. member Reggie Smith, when we got him International E-Newsletter, November 2009 batter to hit on artificial turf in a major league game. neW memBerS Even when the green rug was novel, he didn’t like it. Sports Turf association’s Sports Turf Management & Maintenance Course ’m a traditionalist,” said the former fields will remain in the major leagues: the 1/3 required courses for the parks & Open Space professional Training program (level 1) Los Angeles Dodger. “I’m still an in Toronto and Tropicana old-school guy. I believe baseball was Field in St. Petersburg, FL. That’s down May 3-6, 2010, university of Guelph meant to be played outdoors and be from a high of 10 artificial surfaces in Centre Rogers Welcome to the STA! played in the daytime.” 1977-78 and again from 1982-94. For more information & registration: 519-763-9431 ITurns out, most others think baseball is While colleges and high schools actu- www.sportsturfassociation.com/POSA/Prof Training Program John roddis Dol Turf Restoration Ltd. better on grass, too. The sport’s turf wars ally are installing more artificial fields Bond head, ON are nearing an end. – to accommodate multiple sports – ar- Once regarded as magic carpets that tificial turf is unloved by Major League “I’m personally very happy that they’re PARKS AND OPEN SPACE robert Glenwright would eliminate bad hops and minimize Baseball. gone,” baseball commissioner Bud Selig Chris Nason rainouts, artificial surfaces are going “Baseball in the Metrodome is an un- said. “I understood the need for artificial City of Fredericton, NB the way of the dead ball and complete natural act,” Braves president turf, particularly in multipurpose stadi- A L L I A N C E games. said. Next season will ums. But I think the players are better Keith D’lugos When the open Tar- have just 162 games on artificial turf, the off and I think that the game is better, so Country Day School King City, ON get Field in April 2010, just two non-grass fewest since 1969. I’m happy.”

 WINTER 2009 | Sports Turf Manager www.sportsturfassociation.com | WINTER 2009 9 Players who still spend a majority of from Boston, was out in right field in a Artificial Turf Dying in their games on artificial turf say they can day game in St. Louis in July or August feel it. and it’s 100 degrees. He had rubber cleats Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon and had to call time out. They had melted. makes sure to give All-Star outfielder Carl If I wore the metal spikes, it would have Crawford days off when he has a lot of me branded under the soles on my feet on consecutive games on turf. “I got away a real hot day, from the metal, it would with it when I was 21. I’m a little older sunburn my heel and the balls of my feet. now – I’m almost 30, and it becomes I remember and I would go, ‘Why are my tougher,” Crawford said. “It definitely feet on fire?”’ takes a toll on your body when you have to Los Angeles outfielder Torii Hunter, play 81 games on it. And we’re in a divi- who spent nine seasons at the Metrodome, sion where you play another nine games said the artificial turf was “like running in on the road. That means you’re playing sand” and hurt his hamstrings, lower back, more games on it than you are on natural knees and calf muscles. grass. Basically, you play the best you can Hunter, who left the artificial turf of the with it, but it’s not easy.” Metrodome for Anaheim’s grass after the oddS & endS STA Membership plaques “I’m personally very happy that they’re gone,” baseball commissioner Display membership plaques are Bud Selig said. “I understand the need for artificial turf, particularly in available in executive engraved multipurpose stadiums. But I think the players are better off and I think walnut for $50 plus S&h & gst. To order, contact Lee at the STA that the game is better, so I’m happy.” office. Spring 2010 Submissions Gold Glove first baseman Keith Her- 2007 season, can’t wait until it’s all gone. If you have something you’d nandez says grounders “bounced like a While there’s still artificial turf, his body like to submit for the next issue, SuperBall.” But that wasn’t the biggest pays the price. please forward it to the STA of- problem: His ankles aren’t good to this “During the season, you feel it after fice by February 26, 2010. day because of the turf at your first couple games,” he said. “It takes in St. Louis, his home field from 1974-83. me like a month and a half to really get editorial Content He would soak his feet in buckets of water over some of the soreness that you have Opinions expressed in articles while the Cardinals batted. after the season.” ♦ published in Sports Turf Manager are those of the author and not Former professional baseball player Maury Wills re- “On day games the thermometer would — Associate Press Baseball writer necessarily those of the STA, un- read 148 off the turf,” he recalled. “I re- Ronald Blum, Sept. 26, Turfgrass Producers membered back 43 years ago when he became the first less otherwise indicated. member Reggie Smith, when we got him International E-Newsletter, November 2009 batter to hit on artificial turf in a major league game. neW memBerS Even when the green rug was novel, he didn’t like it. Sports Turf association’s Sports Turf Management & Maintenance Course ’m a traditionalist,” said the former fields will remain in the major leagues: the 1/3 required courses for the parks & Open Space professional Training program (level 1) Los Angeles Dodger. “I’m still an Rogers Centre in Toronto and Tropicana old-school guy. I believe baseball was Field in St. Petersburg, FL. That’s down May 3-6, 2010, university of Guelph meant to be played outdoors and be from a high of 10 artificial surfaces in Centre Rogers Welcome to the STA! played in the daytime.” 1977-78 and again from 1982-94. For more information & registration: 519-763-9431 ITurns out, most others think baseball is While colleges and high schools actu- www.sportsturfassociation.com/POSA/Prof Training Program John roddis Dol Turf Restoration Ltd. better on grass, too. The sport’s turf wars ally are installing more artificial fields Bond head, ON are nearing an end. – to accommodate multiple sports – ar- Once regarded as magic carpets that tificial turf is unloved by Major League “I’m personally very happy that they’re PARKS AND OPEN SPACE robert Glenwright would eliminate bad hops and minimize Baseball. gone,” baseball commissioner Bud Selig Chris Nason rainouts, artificial surfaces are going “Baseball in the Metrodome is an un- said. “I understood the need for artificial City of Fredericton, NB the way of the dead ball and complete natural act,” president turf, particularly in multipurpose stadi- A L L I A N C E games. John Schuerholz said. Next season will ums. But I think the players are better Keith D’lugos When the Minnesota Twins open Tar- have just 162 games on artificial turf, the off and I think that the game is better, so Country Day School King City, ON get Field in April 2010, just two non-grass fewest since 1969. I’m happy.”

 WINTER 2009 | Sports Turf Manager www.sportsturfassociation.com | WINTER 2009 9